Candy Cane ? tissue degeneration

[MVS]

I have this colony of candy canes for approximately 1 year now. Up until this point it’s been doing very well, multiplying like crazy.

Recently, I’ve noticed that the tissue has been deteriorating in one area; as depicted in the pic below.

My setup is as follows:
10g with 80w dual pc.
Mostly LPS corals – candy cane, acan & brain
Some zoo’s
One small clown…it’s a basic setup.


In terms of my parameters, I’ve noticed recently that my calc is low – 330 – 350ppm, I've started dosing Fiji gold to raise both my calc and alk levels. Additionally, my Alk for some reason has always been on the low side - 2 meg/L, PH is usually around 8 – 8.2

FYI
I use steam distilled water for top-offs and water changes (2 gallons per week using tropic marine).

Any recommendations on how to salvage this colony would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[rockman]

if it looks like its dieing away frag it off.Carefull not to get the dead tissue all over the tank it can spread to other corals do it out of the tank .

 

[MVS]

Well I can’t really say if it’s dieing, the top portion of the coral looks fine in the daylight. It’s really the base of the coral were the problem is occurring. I would prefer to cut the coral as a last resort. Judging based upon the pics, are there any possible treatments or does it appear to be beyond the point of return?

 

[reefman]

i find branching lps n sps sometimes will have die offs when its growing too close together. it's like choking itself out; limiting flow/lighting to the inside branches. this is 1 of the reasons we frag.

 

[MVS]

Thanks for the replies. I guess if I don't see any progress over the next week I'll cut it/frag it out.

 

[MVS]

It’s weird, I just noticed that all the joints or bases where the top of the coral divides into the branching heads, appears thin as though the tissue is fading; any idea how to treat this issue.

 

[MVS]

Any suggestions?

 

[basiab]

I have some candy cane in a 10 gallon but they grow a bit different than yours. Mine have a very meaty head but about half inch down it turns into a hard skeleton. The way you describe yours it sounds like it is flesh quite a way down the branch. It is usually better not to over react and let things go for a while to see what develops. I had one head come off in my hands once just as if it rotted off the branch. I was sure it was a goner but I put it in the sand and it is growing very nicely. In fact it had a second accident when a mushroom ended up draping over it and burned the flesh off of one side. And within 2 weeks it was about back to normal.
So unless someone tells you it is a known problem I would let it alone.

 

[Deanos]

It's due to normal growth. As basiab hinted, a fullsized polyp size will remain basically the same size, while the skeleton grows. If growth continues, eventually, all the polyps will 'pull away' from each other leaving only skeleton.

Here's the best example I could find:

 

[BroRage]

do you feed them.... and is there a coral with long stingers in there that might be able to reach that spot...

 

[MVS]

Thanks for all the replies!

I guess the best method is to let nature take it?s course and worse comes to worse, I could try my best to frag the coral.

Lamda: No I don?t feed the coral, I did in the very beginning but I didn?t feel is was a necessity so I stopped shortly after; about 1yr ago. No ? there?s really no other coral in the area that would sting the inner side of the coral, if anything, the heads would be affected.

 

[MVS]

So the tissue on this colony has seems to stay the same; guess it?s safe to say that the colony is expanding and it?s probably a form of the stalks splitting and or expanding.

Anyway, I?m thinking of splitting this colony right down the center and selling or trading it. The frag will have approximately 17 heads. I?m only willing to frag this colony once I have a serious and finalized sale.

Please make me your best offer.


Thanks,


Mike

 

[MVS]

PS Here's a better pic relating to the above post.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i agree w/ dean it's natural for candy canes to show skeleton on the base as they grow. now if the heads show skeleton, you may have a problem

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It's due to normal growth. As basiab hinted, a fullsized polyp size will remain basically the same size, while the skeleton grows. If growth continues, eventually, all the polyps will 'pull away' from each other leaving only skeleton.

Here's the best example I could find:

:cheers::tongue1:

 

[MVS]

Thanks!

Long time no see SF: and no, the heads don't show signs of skeleton.

Any offers...

 

[fritz]

Just as a side note, "For Sale" goes in the "For Sale" forum and MR usually shuns open bidding as this isn't e-bay.